Warp X Weft: Textile 101

Saturday, September 30th, 2017 10:30am - 12:30pm

Organizations

The Britex Blog

This was an extra-fabulous year for Britex Fabrics at SF Pride! We were a proud sponsor of The Theatre Rhino's Priscilla, Queen of the Desert float, contributing the silver lamé fabric trailing behind the iconic giant high-heeled shoe beloved from the show and movie. Come visit Britex Fabrics at our brick-and-mortar store to explore all of our shiny (and also not shiny!) fabrics.

"Cocktail Glamour Hour" is a reticule by Marsha Schuld, created for the Talliaferro challenge

Besides offering hand-embroidery day-classes for all levels, San Francisco School of Needlework and Design (SNAD) has become a center for the stitch community—across the Bay Area and around the world. One means of further promoting needlework and including followers from near and far is through SNAD’s three-time a year Stitch-at- Home Challenges.

This is the 19th Techtextil Symposium where international experts present research results, products, and technologies.This year the Symposium is being presented in conjunction with the Dornbirn Manmade Fibre Conference, which focuses on sustainability and resource management.

There’s a fantastic collection of beautiful and vibrant fabric art, sourced from nearly a dozen countries, hand-picked and locally curated, on display at Warehouse416! This month we celebrate Transportive Textiles, brought to you by Hess Art Advisory

Saturday, March 11 (2PM): Curator walk-through with Claudia Hess will illuminate the special meanings of these international textiles, and elaborate on their enduring qualities. Light refreshments will be served

Saturday, March 18 (4PM): Wine tasting to introduce the South American flavors of fine wine and fabrics, side-by-side. RSVP!

Saturday, March 25 (2PM): Learn about the special meanings of our textiles, and how to use textiles in interior design! Artist talk will pair Claudia Hess (Hess Art Advisory) and Jill Vellinger (J Vellinger Designs). Also: pop-up tacos with Patricia Sandoval.

The current Stich at Home Challenge by our neighbors at the San Francisco School of Needlework and Design (SNAD) is underway. For this challenge, crewelwork-designer Anna Garris Goiser of Talliaferro Classic Needleart has generously contributed two motifs of her own design for you to interpret into stitch. You will be able to interpret the designs using any needlework technique you like! Deadline is April 15. The previous Challenge, titled Jewels of the Sea, is currently on exhibit through March 4, around the corner from Britex Fabrics at SNAD, 360 Post Street, Suite 604, open Monday-Saturday, 9:30-4:30. For more information on the Challenges or course schedule, visit www.sfsnad.org

Every year, for the past few years, we have proudly sponsored the National Make it With Wool, a competition encouraging the joy and versatility of sewing with wool. Members are asked to create an entire outfit, for themselves, out of all wool (or 60% wool blends) using techniques such as sewing, knitting, and crocheting. Each competitor is entered into Regionals, and if chosen, will then move on to Nationals. This year the National competition was held in Reno, CA and produced the following winners.
Kris Puckrin - Junior Division (ages 13-16)

As many know, Britex has been a long standing San Francisco icon, along with many other wonderful places. One of which is our famous San Francisco Symphony. Last month, the two met in a spectacular event celebrating music director Michael Tilson Thomas' 70th birthday.

Guess what? Britex is a proud supporter of Sewing Indie Month happening right now! Sewing Indie Month is an online party with 21 independent sewing pattern designers and their best friends (that would be you)!
In the organizer's own words...
"Sewing Indie Month is all about making new friends and sewing great garments. See, when you’re an independent sewing pattern designer sometimes you really wish you could ask your fellow designers’ advice, or even just commiserate about how little sleep you get when there’s an error in one of your patterns. That can seem weird and presumptuous though, asking a stranger, a competing business owner, to chat about certain things they’d rather keep private. But that’s the great thing about being an indie designer, your fellow designers aren’t your competition, they’re your allies."
You won't want to miss the sewalongs lead by some mighty awesome bloggers (including our very own Guest Blogger Laura Mae). Sewalong themes and blogs follow:
Indie Love Affair - Wanett of Sown Brooklyn
Dressed to the Nines - Laura of Lilacs and Lace
Everyday Casual - Jenny of Cashmerette
Pattern Hacking - Rhonda of Rhonda’s Creative Life
The best part is that you can participate and win!

What's a Textile Station?
We’re so glad you asked! Our new Textile Station is a way for you to test your fiber knowledge. See and feel raw fibers—silk, wool, cotton and flax—and try to guess what fabrics are made from those fibers. Here’s a hint…there may be some trick blends.